Recruiting volunteers for a multisite phase I/II HIV preventive vaccine trial in Thailand

Abstract

Factors believed to be predictive of retention through the recruitment and screening processes for preventive HIV trials were investigated in a large multisite phase I/II HIV vaccine trial in Thailand. Retention through recruitment was equal to or greater than in previous smaller trials with similar populations. The data suggested that recruitment proceeded in a stepwise manner with different influences at each step. Demographic and motivational variables were most important in predicting retention in making and keeping screening appointments. Altruistic or mixed altruistic and nonaltruistic motives were associated with greater retention. Laboratory/medical variables appeared to be the main influence on retention during screening, although some volunteers withdrew for different reasons. The frequent presence of mixed (altruistic and nonaltruistic) motives at initial contact suggests that motivation for trials is more complex than has been previously acknowledged.